Rollers London Bound Whilst Gliders Face Nervous Wait
The Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team has secured qualification for the London 2012 Paralympics, while the Australian women’s team must continue to fight this week for their ticket to the Games.
With three days’ play still remaining at the 2011 Asia Oceania Championships, which doubles as the London 2012 Paralympic qualifier, victories to both the Australian teams today in Goyang, Korea, could not have come at a better time.
For the Rollers, their 65-49 win over Korea today ensured they are certain to qualify for Thursday’s gold medal match as one of the top two teams in the men’s division, while the Gliders’ 59-42 victory was extremely crucial in the context of the women’s hotly-contested four nation tournament.
It was the Gliders’ third win from four outings, after their only blemish came with a 58-56 loss to Japan on Saturday.
They have since bounced back in style, trouncing Korea 119-9 yesterday before their 17-point victory over China today, which now sets up a mouth-watering clash with Japan tomorrow to decide the finals make-up.
Victory will secure a spot in the gold medal final for the Australians, and more importantly, book a spot on the plane to London for the Paralympics beginning on August 29.
Defeat will take destiny out of their hands and instead, will see them rely on a Chinese victory over Japan in the final qualifying match on Wednesday.
Despite what is at stake, Australian Gliders head coach John Triscari said his team were handling the pressure well and improving as the tournament progresses.
“I told the girls that we weren’t playing as aggressively as we do against the European teams, and it was important that we dictated what was going in both offence and defence today,” Triscari said.
“That was a turning point. We went out very aggressively. Being able to press the Chinese defence I think was the difference in the game.
“Things are moving in the right direction. We’re nearly there, but coaches are never fully happy.
“Defensively, we are a very tough side. It’s the finishing off part and the finer parts that we need to work on offensively.”
Cobi Crispin was again the leading light for the Gliders today, compiling 17 points and 17 rebounds to firm as favourite for the tournament MVP prize. Bridie Kean (14 points) and Sarah Stewart (12 points) also impressed.
In the men’s division, the Australian Rollers were pushed for the first time at the tournament by a Korean outfit spurred on by their home-court advantage.
But the reigning Paralympic and World Champions withstood the challenge, with the West Australian and WAIS connection of Shaun Norris (19 points, seven rebounds), Brad Ness (14 points, eight rebounds) and Justin Eveson (11 points) the key contributors.
The 16-point margin was the smallest of the Rollers’ campaign in Korea, which has seen them annihilate Chinese Taipei (88-37), New Zealand (104-27) and Iraq (79-29) in their previous three outings.
-APC